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JOHAN ZOFFANY, R.A.

(1733-1810)

Study of an Indian Cow

Study of an Indian Cow
Inscribed ‘Taros Kaw abord the duchess of Florens’
Black, white and red chalks on paper
27 x 41 cm
Acquired by a Private Collector

Provenance

The artist by whom given to Major General Claude Martin (1735-1800), Lucknow, India, circa 1799

 His sale, Tulloh & Co, Calcutta, 18 December, 1800

 Purchased by Benjamin Wolff (1760 - 1866) presumably whilst in  Calcutta,1817-1829,

 Engelholm Manor, Copenhagen and by descent       

 

This exquisitely rendered study of a cow was drawn by Zoffany in 1789 whilst aboard the Grande Duchesse on his passage home from India.

 

    In early January 1789, Zoffany began his journey back to England from Calcutta. His health was already "much impaired", according to a letter dated the 15th February 1789, sent by Gavin Hamilton to Ozias Humphry. He travelled aboard the Grande Duchesse, a French ship sailing under Tuscan colours and destined for Livorno via Cadiz. En route, at St Helena he transferred ships to an East Indiaman, the General Coote. Zoffany arrived back in England on the 16th August, 1789. 

 

    Unsubstantiated stories of a shipwreck and cannibalism on the voyage home have proved to be nothing more than apocryphal. However, it does seem likely that Zoffany suffered a stroke aboard either the Grande Duchesse or the General Coote, this story at least can be corroborated by multiple contemporary sources. 

 

    Claude Martin in a letter dated the 8th January, 1789 wrote to Charles Townley that 'I will Regret him, but he must quit this Country, he Grows old.' 

Read more

Related artworks

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    JOHAN ZOFFANY, R.A. Self Portrait
    Black, white and red chalks on paper 14 x 10 1/2 Inches
    Acquired by a Private Collector, USA
  • ${artwork.get('title_and_year')}
    THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH R.A. WOODED LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES AND CATTLE AT A POOL
    Black and white chalk with stump 9 5/8 x 12 ¼ inches (24.3 x 31.3 cm) Engraved: In soft ground etching and aquatint by Gainsborough and published by J.&J. Boydell as no.4 in a series of twelve on 1 August 1797
    Acquired by Gainsborough's House, Sudbury
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